The famous Haus Elephant, Hitler's favourite

Special binding - limited printing for Gauleiter Fritz Sauckel

Ink dedication and signature from Sauckel to fellow Gauleiter Rainer.

The famous Haus Elephant hotel in Weimar, was always used by Hitler when he stayed in Weimar. In fact he had his own suite in the hotel. After the Haus Elephant was rebuilt in 1937, the area Gauleiter, Fritz Sauckel had an especially bound book printed as a limited run of 100 copies. These were given by Sauckel to friends and colleagues. Hitler obviously received one for his library, as did the Haus Elephant itself.

The limited edition book has fine red silk covers with a beautifully gold blocked eagle/swastika to the centre. The hotel name, Haus Elephant is blocked to the lower section. The reverse has a gold blocked cartouche with a central elephant motif. The interior pages are made up of a special quality paper for texts, along with a special photo friendly paper stock for the images. In addition to photographs of both Adolf Hitler, and Fritz Sauckel, there are numerous photographs showing the Haus Elephant from the early 1800s, up to the rebuilt hotel of 1937. Other photographs show Hitler on the balcony of the hotel at the time of his first visit in 1938 after it was rebuilt.

The dedication page has a full ink dedication from Gauleiter Fritz Sauckel, to Gauleiter Rainer from Salzburg. Also included in the sale, is a copy of the post-war newspaper, The Stars And Stripes, dated 21st November 1945. The paper has a photograph of Nuremberg defendants on the cover, including; amongst others; Goring, Hess and Sauckel. Sauckel's photograph has been ringed in ink by the American soldier that brought this book back from Germany to America as a souvenir.

Condition report: The book in excellent overall condition with just light handling evident. Inside clean and free from damage.

Provenance: Found in the library of Gauleiter Rainer, and taken as a souvenir by an American serviceman. The book, together with newspaper, were acquired from the serviceman by a leading collector in the 1980s. The book and paper has remained in that collection until consigned to ULRIC of ENGLAND.